This recipe for easy paella is a show-stopping mixture of seasoned rice with shrimp, sausage and chicken. Simple and delicious!
Click here to PIN this recipe for Easy Paella now – so you can make it later!
There is a reason why I am calling this reason Easy Paella, and it is this: Paella Is Easy.
For ages and ages I suffered from Paella Intimidation, which is the completely unreasonable fear of making one of my favorite rice and seafood dishes because, I don’t know, it looked HARD. And then I bucked up and made it, and guess what?
Not. Hard.
Nope, it’s one of the easier fancy dinners I have ever made…so fancy in fact that I now make it on regular old Thursday nights, because it’s basically just a matter of tossing some rice in a pan with broth and white wine and some seafood and veggies and whatever else catches your fancy, paella-wise, and letting it all simmer together until it is done.
When I think of all the paella I haven’t eaten in my lifetime due to Paella Intimidation…well, let’s not think about that after all. Instead let’s make some!
This recipe for easy paella is a show-stopping mixture of seasoned rice with shrimp, sausage and chicken. Simple and delicious! I first made this last Christmas Eve, because there is nothing like making something you are afraid to make when you have loads of people coming for dinner. Why do something as calming as a test run?
Nope, I figured I would just take things to Defcon One, dinner-wise.
Which at the end of the day was a complete waste of perfectly good stress, because after doing massive paella research and coming up with my own spin on it, it obediently cooked up perfectly.
It was almost anticlimactic, except for the part where I got to serve everyone plates full of spicy, tender paella. Now I pull this recipe out whenever I am feeling like I want to eat fancy without actually cooking fancy.
Here’s me being fancy recently at our local PBA wine-tasting fundraiser.
And here’s the Southern husband really, really wishing he could take home the car we are leaning on. Talk about fancy.
Back at the paella, here’s how paella goes.
Here’s how you make easy paella!
You want a nice short grain rice that is going to do a good job of absorbing the liquid…I use arborio rice, which is the same kind you use for risotto.
You want whatever kind of protein you want to star in your paella…I used shrimp, sausage and chicken, but you can use any one or combo of those you like, or you can swap in lobster if you are feeling extra swanky.
You need chopped tomatoes and onion, some chicken broth and white wine, and a little saffron or turmeric to spice things up and get the rice that pretty shade of deep yellow.
Start by sautéing up the chicken and onion, and then pour in the rice and the chicken broth and wine and spices.
Simmer it all together for about 15 minutes, until the rice is almost but not quite done. Add the sausage, tomatoes and shrimp and cook it for another 5-10 minutes or so, until the rice is just done and the shrimp is cooked through.
You have now made paella. Seriously. Paella. Here’s a quick little video so you can see the paella-making in action…
One important note about the rice: for 100% paella authenticity, you want the rice to stick to the bottom of the pan, forming a crunchy bottom crust that is called socarrat.
Sometimes I achieve lovely crunchy socarrat, sometimes (like in the video) I don’t. I am now so chill about paella-making that I am happy both ways.
So whether you have a fancy dinner coming up, or you are just craving paella on a random Thursday night, Relax and Paella On. It’s easy!
Easy Paella
This recipe for easy paella is a show-stopping mixture of seasoned rice with shrimp, sausage and chicken. Simple and delicious!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Spanish
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 boneless chicken breast, cubed
- 1 sweet onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 1 cup chicken broth, plus extra as needed
- 1 cup white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon saffron or turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 14 ounce can diced tomato
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled
- 6 ounces sausage (your choice!)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium high heat. Saute chicken until just golden. Add onion and saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add rice and stir. Add broth and wine, salt and pepper and saffron or turmeric and stir. Simmer for 15 minutes, adding more chicken broth if needed.
- Add tomato, shrimp and sausage and simmer until rice is just done and shrimp is cooked through, about another 5-10 minutes. Ideally the rice should stick to the bottom of the pan to form a little crust (but don’t fret if it doesn’t, it will still be scrumptious!).
- Hurray! You’ve made paella!
Susan Sevig says
I have also lived in fear of this recipe. That you for helping me go ahead. I cant wait to try this. Susan
Ha! Let me know how it comes out for you when you try it! :)
Todd says
Thanks for the recipe! I used a little tomato paste instead of diced tomatoes and replaced the wine with more broth. It came out perfectly.
Todd! I’m so glad this worked for you – it’s always a good night when paella is on the menu, right? :)
Faye says
Is the sausage supposed to be cooked or raw?
Hi Faye! I used cooked sausage in this recipe. Happy cooking!
Mary Bolton says
Thanks for this recipe! I made it over the weekend and am sure I will do it again soon. Simple and tasty!
I’m so glad you liked it! Now that I have conquered my fear of paella, I’m making it all the time now. :)
Martha in KS says
Thanks for a great-sounding recipe, Kate. I’ll be making it soon. BTW you look so good with that convertible & Mother’s Day is coming up!
Rahul @samosastreet.com says
Love your version of paella . This easy one is the dish that everyone would like to have for both lunch and dinner.
Amanda says
I’ve always been a little intimidated by paella too. But it looks so delicious and I’ve always wanted to try it. This looks beautiful and you’re really tempting me to give it a go! ????
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
Love that you’ve overcome your fear of cooking paella! I must admit, I’ve never made it….I guess I need to take a giant step and cook it up! Your recipe looks like the one I need to try. Love your pics of the wine tasting and cars. You look stunning! :)
Adina says
I only had Paella once in Tenerife on holidays, it was unbelievably good. I never had the guts to make it myself, it sounded so complicated and so many ingredients (expensive ones) were needed. Your version sounds delicious and very “makeable”. Lovely dress, by the way! :)
Karen Nelson says
You are the cutest fancy nancy! You look great and I love the joy with your dearest❤️
I too have never made paella but I like this recipe and your take! Just purchased a beautiful new deep skillet and think this is the perfect christening
recipe! I appreciate the take on the rice… Sometimes the crust and sometimes not but great either way…
As always…big hugs????
Dawn Hall says
Looks good and simple to cook, but has anyone actually cooked this recipe yet Kate?
Hi Dawn…I cooked that very plate and pan full of paella you see up there, and have made it many times before and since. Every recipe on this blog has been made by me multiple times before I post it. :)
Ginger says
Please clarify the amount of shrimp – 1/2 pound appears twice. Also formatting issue – Black Pepper & canned tomatoes. This does look easy, can’t wait to try.
Ginger, thanks for your eagle eye – my site was definitely misbehaving with that recipe formatting! All fixed now and hope you love the paella! :)
Rachel says
Is the shrimp raw when you put it in
It is!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’ve never bade paella before, but I always assumed that it was hard to do! I’m loving this easy version, Kate! It sounds like such delicious comfort food!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
You know, I’ve never had paella! But this looks like something I would love. Plus, it’s a one pan dish, so that’s always a plus, isn’t it? Pinning this one for trying soon :) Thanks for sharing!
demeter | beaming baker says
Isn’t bucking up the best? You really can do anything you set your mind to… ya know, by bucking up. ;) Your paella looks gorgeous and just like everything we all deserve after a loooong week. Plus, how cute do you look all fancified for the fundraiser? I am especially enjoying how you’ve placed your hand on the car, like, “yep, this is mine.” Hehe. Have an awesome weekend, Kate! ;)